Tag Archives: plasma

It’s a crowd-pleasing party trick: Cut a grape in half, pop it in the microwave, hit “start” then sit back and watch the dazzling “grape balls of fire.” Now a team of Canadian scientists has figured out how grapes generate plasma in your kitchen.

Sitting around a campfire, you can feel its heat, smell the woody smoke, and hear it crackle. If you get too close, it burns your eyes and stings your nostrils. You could stare at the bright flames forever as they twist and flicker in endless incarnations… But what exactly are you looking at? Elizabeth Cox illuminates the science behind fire. Continue reading →